If you spend any amount of time trying to appear younger or seeking affirmation that you couldn’t possibly look your age, the 2010 Lincoln MKZ isn’t for you. The MKZ is a classy, luxurious and comfortable sedan, but it tends to be more interested in routing you to the local diner or golf course rather than the elementary school, park, or any shops or restaurants that would be considered trendy. I felt like I was driving my grandpa’s car the whole week of my test drive.
The MKZ has a starting MSRP of $34,225; my front-wheel-drive test car cost $40,560.
From a performance perspective, the MKZ has plenty of power stowed away for the odd chance you might need to rush somewhere. Its ride is super smooth without so much as a jolt. It’s a graceful car that would choose a Sunday drive over a rush-hour haul.
To be fair, the MKZ does have all the elements necessary for making a great family car. The kids were able to get in and out easily, and the cargo area was huge. There’s no wrestling to get the stroller in the trunk of this ride.
EXTERIOR
The Lincoln MKZ has status. Redesigned for 2010, it’s well-suited for the country club set. My kids thought it was fancy, which made them feel special and made me feel like a chauffeur. The tall, shimmering grille reminded me of a butterfly, with its two wings separated by the Lincoln emblem.
The MKZ has lots of power with its 263-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that runs on regular gas. It gets an EPA-estimated 18/27 mpg city/highway.
This sedan is so family-friendly that my kids became almost completely independent in it. With doors they could open and close on their own and a backseat they could easily step into, they were getting settled without any help from me. Although I’m sure it was meant to hold golf bags, the trunk easily swallowed a week’s worth of groceries. The bags were well within even my 4-year-old’s reach — at least the bags closest to the opening. This allowed both boys to help Mommy unload the trunk.
My only real displeasure with the MKZ’s exterior is the rear window is far too small for adequate visibility. The large head restraints for the second row also didn’t help matters.
SENSE AND STYLE
Family Friendly (Not Really, Fair, Great, Excellent): Fair
Fun-Factor (None, Some, Good Times, Groove-On): None
INTERIOR
The 2010 MKZ’s redesign included many changes to the interior, which is clean-looking and clutter-free. I liked the delicate swooshes of real wood accenting the interior doors and the no-nonsense approach to the center stack and related controls. My test car had the Sync system as well as dual-zone climate control.
The leather seats are comfy, and in the first row, they’re power-adjustable and heated. My 6-foot husband and I had plenty of legroom in the front, and my kids had lots of it in the backseat, as well. The boys also liked that the backseat’s cupholders were easy to reach in the armrest.
Out of curiosity, I hopped into the second row to get a feel for the center seat. It wasn’t great because of the hump in the floor, which pushed my feet and legs into an uncomfortable position. When I tried buckling up with a boy in a booster seat on either side of me, there were wars over buckle receptors. I’m not proud.
I was really surprised by the sound system in this five-seater. My test car had the optional THX II audio system. It truly has theater-like sound, which was an enjoyable surprise for a car we thought was for older people. It pounded out our Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga just fine.
IT’S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT COUNT
Storage Compartments (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Fair
Cargo/Trunk Space (Puny, Fair, Ample, Galore): Ample
SAFETY
There’s no hunting or digging for Latch connectors in the MKZ. They stuck out from the cushions, so there wasn’t any thumb-wrestling with overstuffed cushions to get everyone’s child-safety seats installed. With all of the legroom in the second row, a rear-facing convertible or infant-safety seat should fit in the backseat without any problems.
The MKZ has standard front-wheel drive, but as a Michiganian, I’d opt for the all-wheel-drive model. It also has standard four-wheel-disc antilock brakes, traction control, an electronic stability system and six airbags, including side curtains for both rows.
The MKZ has several blind spots, and I depended a lot on the MKZ’s available blind spot warning system and standard rear parking sensors. It also has an available backup camera.
Get more safety information about the 2010 Lincoln MKZ here.
